Box construction for pop-out surprise toys



Jan. 30, 1962 J. A. FRAMPTON BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR POP-OUT SURPRISE TOYS Filed June 14, 1960 mm W mfm r Y 1 1 F kw w "6 H m n M o 0 Z MQV n W 2 1M m A 5 M Q Q T E m n4 m F United States Patent 3,018,937 BOX CONSTRUCTIGN FOR POP-OUT SURPRISE TOYS John A. Frampton, 144 E. Beechwold Blvd., Columbus 14, Ohio Filed June 14, 1960, Ser. No. 36,007 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-37) The present invention relates generally to surprise packagetoys or jokes, and'more particularly to an improved box or package construction for releasably retaining and concealing therein a spring-type pop-out toy.

So-called jack in the box toys have been in common use for many years. So, also, there have been proposed numerous different forms and types of pop-out sur prise toys or practical jokes which comprise generally the combination of a box and a spring-actuated, pop-out 'body adapted to be initially compressed and concealed within the box, and thereafter forcibly released and projected outwardly'from the box upon the opening of the box by'an unsuspecting person. However, I have found that the various boxes or receptacles which have heretofore been employed for this purpose are comparatively inefficient, cumbersome, and unwieldy, particularly when it comes to loading the box or receptacle with the associated spring-actuated pop-out toy. For example, when an ordinary type of paperboard or wood box or metal can having an open end and a detachable lid or top member is employed, it is extremely difficult to load or reload the box or can by reason of the fact that it is necessary to compress the associatpd spring-actuated toy and hold the same under spring compression with one hand while attempting to replace and lock the 'lidor top upon the box with the otherhand. As will be readily understood, the fingers of the one hand which hold the spring-actuated pop-out toy under compression within the body of the box must be removed from the open end of the box, in order that the lid or top member may be placed over and secured in closing relationto the open end of the box.

Accordingly, it is the'prirnary object of the'present invention to provide animproved receptacle or box for socalled spring-actuated pop-out surprise toys which is so formed and constructedas to simulate the innocent appearance of an ordinary gift box, While at the sametime providing means to greatly facilitate the loading or reloading and concealedconfinement of the pop-out toy within the box.

Another object is to provide a box of this character which is relatively simple in its construction and which may be economically manufactured in large quantities through the use of ordinary paperboard box-forming machinery.

A further object is to provide a box for spring-actuated surprise toys which embodies a main body portion closed at one end and open at the other end thereof, and a removable lid or top member which is adapted to telescope over the open end of the main body portion of the box, and wherein the main body portion of the box is formed or otherwise provided at its open end with a pair of hinged, inwardly foldable end closure flaps which, in effect, provide a double top or closure to retain the associated spring-actuated pop-out toy within the confines of the box while, at the same time, providing a readily accessible means for holding the associated toy under spring compression during the placement of the lid or top member upon the box.

For a further and more detailed understanding of the present invention and the additional objects and advantages realized therefrom, reference is made to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

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FIG; 1 is a perspective view of a box or receptacle formed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in vertical section, showing the present box in'a closedc'on'dition with an associated spring-actuated pop-out'toy positioned therein;

FIG. 3 is an exploded vertical sectional view illustrating the present box construction and the associated pop-out toy at the instant'of removal of the lid from the box;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view takenalong the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a small scale plan view of a paperboard blank from which the present box may be constructed.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates gene-rally the main body portion of a box formed in accordance with this invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the body portionof the box may advantageously he formed from a single piece blank of paperboard, and comprises side panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 of equal Width hingedly connected to one another by intermediate, longitudinally extending score or fold lines. The outer longi tudinal marginal edge of the side panel 11 is formedto include a relatively narrow glue lap 15which, upon assembly of the blank is adapted to be adhesively'secured to the inner surface of the side panel 14 to for-m the generally rectangular main body portion 10 of the box; The side panels 11 and 13 are formed at the lower ends thereof with oppositely disposed, inwardly foldable, lower end flaps 16 whose lengths are approximately one-half the width of the box. The lower end flaps 16 are joined'with the side panels 11' and 13 by'fold lines, and are arranged so as to fold inwardly of the lower end of the boxto substantially close the same without overlapping one-an other. Connected with the lower end of the sidepanel 14, by means of a fold line 17, is a bottom closure flap 18 which terminates at its outer end in a hinged glue lap or tab 19. Thus, upon assembly of the main body portion of the box, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the shorter end flaps 16 are first folded inwardly'atthe lower ends of the side panels, and then the largenbott'om closure flap 181s foldedinwardly'over the shorter fia'ps' 16 and the glue tab 19 tucked-'inwardly'and adhesively secured to the inner surface of the side panel'12; The flaps 16 and 18 thus form on the main'body portion of the box a'double thickness bottom.

The side panel 12 is formed atthe upper end'thereof with an upper endclosure' flap 20 which is hingedly connected 'with the panel IZ by a fold line' 21 The flap 20 has a length dimension substantially equal to the width of the main body portion of the box, and is arranged to fold inwardly and substantially fully across the normally open upper end of the box body, as shown in FIG. 2. The side panel 14 is also formed to include an inwardly foldable top closure flap 22 which is substantially longer than the flap 20, and which includes, as an extension thereof, a relatively short, downwardly foldable tab portion 23. As seen particularly from FIG. 2 of the drawing, the top closure flap '22 is arranged to fold inwardly across the upper, open end of the body portion of the box, above the inwardly folded flap 2,0, with the extended tab portion 23 folded downwardly upon and partially overlying the upper end portion of the side panel 12. In addition to the main body portion 10, the box includes a removable lid or top closure member 24 of generally shallow, rectangular configuration which is adapted to frictionally and snugly telescope over the upper end portion of the body 10 to fully close the latter, and to frictionally clamp or pinch the end tab 23 of the top closure flap 22 against the outer surface of the side panel 12.

As previously indicated, the present box construction is especially designed as a package or box for a springactuated pop-out surprise toy, one particular form of which is indicated at 25. The pop-out toy 25 comprises a relatively Weak, helically coiled wire compression spring 26 enclosed within a flexible, tubular, fabric, outer casing or sleeve 27 which may be appropriately colored or otherwise decorated to simulate a grotesque snake or the like. FIG. 2 of the drawing illustrates the present box construction in its closed or set condition with the popout toy body 25 compressed within the internal compartment or chamber of the main body portion of the box between the closed bottom flaps 16 and the upper closure flap 20. In this position, the forces exerted by the compressed spring 26 act upon the hinged flap 20 and tend to swing the latter upwardly and outwardly, but due to the overlapping top closure flap 22 and the reaction leverage exerted by the flap 22 upon the outer end of the flap 20, combined with the frictional clamping of the end tab 23 by the lid 24 of the box, the flap 20 is securely held against upward swinging movement until the lid 24 is removed from the upper end of the box body. FIG. 3 of the drawing illustrates the action of the pop-out toy 25 and the flaps 20 and 22 upon removal of the lid 24 of the box. As will be noted, upon removal of the lid 24, the pressure of the compressed spring 26 causes the top closure flap 22 to swing upwardly and outwardly in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 to a point at which the flap 22 no longer engages the underlying flap 20. At this position of the flap 22, the flap 20 is free to swing open to thus permit the top body 25 to spring suddenly outwardly from the now open upper end of the box. Depending upon the relative strength of the spring, the toy body 25, upon removal of the lid 24 by an unsuspecting person, may jump completely out of the box and be projected across an associated room, all to the shock and amazement of such person.

When it is desired to reset the surprise package, the toy body 25 is stuffed back into the compartment of the box and compressed downwardly below the level of the flaps 20 and 22, using the fingers of one hand, while firmly holding the box with the fingers of the other hand. Next, the upper end flap 20 is folded inwardly over the upper end of the compressed toy body and then the top flap 22 is folded inwardly over the flap 20. Then, by holding the end tab 23 of the flap 22 tightly against the outer surface of the side panel 12, the lid 24 may be telescoped over the upper end of the box body without interference with the fingers or hands of a person resetting the package. Once in closing position, the lid serves to firmly clamp the end tab 23 against the outer side panel 12 to prevent accidental release of the pop-out toy until the lid is once again intentionally removed.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a mechanically eflicient, yet

inexpensive, box or package construction for spring-actuated pop-out toys or practical jokes. Boxes formed in accordance with this invention are characterized by their ability to positively retain and conceal the associated pop-out toy under spring compression within the confines of the box, independent of any special locks or catches, until such time as the lid member is removed therefrom. The present box or package is further advantageous in that the same may be quickly and easily reset or loaded without cumbersome manipulation.

While a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that various modifications as to details of construction and design may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

A box adapted to releasably retain and conceal therein a spring-type pop-out toy, said box comprising a generally rectangular, hollow body defining an internal compartment, said body being substantially permanently closed at one end thereof and formed at its opposite end with a pair of relatively opposed, inwardly foldable end closure flaps, one of said end closure flaps having a length dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of said body and being foldable inwardly to substantially fully close the said opposite end of said body, the other of said end closure flaps having a length dimension substantially greater than the width dimension of said body and terminating at the outer end thereof in a hinged tab portion, said last-named end closure flap being fold' able inwardly across the said opposite end of said body and upon said first-named end closure flap to retain the latter in a closed position, the hinged tab portion of said last-named end closure flap being arranged to partially overlie an outer side of said body when said last-named end closure flap is folded inwardly over said first-named end closure flap; and a removable lid member arranged to frictionally telescope over the said opposite end of said body when said end closure flaps are folded inwardly and to frictionally engage the hinged tab portion of said last-named end closure flap to clamp said tab against a side of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 978,489 Salmond Dec. 13, 1910 1,242,534 Eaton Oct. 9, 1917 1,679,710 Creasey Aug. 7, 1928 2,784,901 Wilcox Mar. 12, 1957 

